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Effect of a social network-based supportive program (WhatsApp) on the sexual self-concept of women with breast cancer: A single-blind-randomized controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2022

Fatemeh Hamidi ,
Forouzan Elyasi Open the ORCID record for Forouzan Elyasi [Opens in a new window] ,
Seyed-Nouraddin Mousavinasab ,
Arash Ghasemi ,
Zohre Keshavarz  and
Zohreh Shahhosseini Open the ORCID record for Zohreh Shahhosseini [Opens in a new window]
Fatemeh Hamidi
Affiliation:
Student of Midwifery Counseling, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Forouzan Elyasi
Affiliation:
Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction Research Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Seyed-Nouraddin Mousavinasab
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Research Institute of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Arash Ghasemi
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Zohre Keshavarz
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zohreh Shahhosseini*
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
*
Author for correspondence: Zohreh Shahhosseini, Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. E-mail: zshahhosseini@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Objectives

Sexual self-concept has an influence on the sexual behaviors of women with breast cancer. Supportive programs for these women have demonstrable empirical efficacy; however, their effectiveness has not been examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a supportive program based on social networks on the sexual self-concept of women with breast cancer.

Methods

In this randomized controlled single-blind trial, 60 women were assigned to the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups using permuted block randomization. Overall, eight 45-min intervention sessions were held (twice a week). The primary outcome was sexual self-concept, and the secondary outcomes were women's sexual quality of life and participants’ satisfaction. The questionnaires were completed by patients before the intervention and immediately and 1 month after the intervention.

Results

The generalized equation estimation test showed that the positive sexual self-concept score of the intervention group versus the control group had increased by 15.67 points (P < 0.001, effect size = 2.00) 1 month after the intervention. The negative sexual self-concept score had decreased by 2.65 points (P < 0.001, effect size = 0.74), and the situational sexual self-concept score had upturned by 6.82 points (P < 0.001, effect size = 2.08) in the intervention group at the same period. Also, the sexual quality of life score in the intervention group compared to the control group generally increased by 13.82 points (P < 0.001, Effect size = 2.08) 1 month following the intervention.

Significance of the results

A social networking support program can be a promising approach to improve the sexual self-concept of women with breast cancer.

Clinical trials.gov identifier

Iranian Clinical Trial Register, IRCT20150608022609N8. Registered on 2 July 2020.

Keywords

Breast cancerCancerSexual self-conceptSocial networks
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2023 , pp. 27 - 37
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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